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r : 1 Maryland Breeding Farms Nos. 1-2-3-4 j By NELSON DUNSTAN FOREWORD. Since last November, this writer has been making a searching and detailed study of the thoroughbred breeding industry in America. To complete the task, trips over many miles were necessary, and having finished a series on the Virginia establishments, this article is the opening number of the Maryland studs I have seen in the past six weeks. Before starting, however, I thought a few lines concerning Marylands history as a breeding center in general would be of interest. For while the Old Line State has become a powerful factor in the breeding world during the past twelve years, its history dates back to the days before the Revolution. Samuel Ogle, serving in the office of lieutenant governor of Maryland, was one of the states first importers of horses, and in 1747 caused a mighty infusion of the Darley blood by the importation of the sire, Spark, and the mare, Queen Mab. At Governor Ogles death in 1752, his uncle, Colonel Tasker, carried on his stud, and also deeply interested, imported Selima, daughter of the great progenitor, the Godol-phin Arabian. In 1755, Gov. Horatio Sharpe followed the example of his predecessor by importing the English stallion, Othello. From a mating of Othello and Selima, came Selim, one of the greatest of pre-Revolutionary horses. At the old Philadelphia course, Selim astonished the colonists by defeating Colonel Byrds Trial, running the four miles in 8:02. The Revolution played havoc with the breeding industry in Maryland. It was curtailed again in 1860, but a decade or so later, the Maryland Jockey Club originally established at Annapolis in 1745 was reorganized and elected Oden Bowie as president. Fairview, the home of Bowie built in 1790 contributed largely to Marylands early breeding success, one product being the mighty gelding, Crickmore, twice conqueror of the immortal Hindoo. Governor Bowie formulated the plans for the "Dinner Party Stakes," the race that was won by Preak-ness, the horse after which the Maryland classic, the Preakness, was named. From 1885 to shortly after the opening of the present century, both racing and breeding lost valuable ground in Maryland. In 1924, besides the two historic farms, Belair and Bowling Brook, the Old Line State boasted the establishments of J. K. L. Ross, Samuel Riddle, Richard F. Carmen, H. Guy Bedwell, J. Edwin Griffith, William Jennings, B. M. Dever, Major G. L. Stryker, W. J. Demoss and W. O. Forest. Although some of those mentioned no longer maintain breeding farms, the industry has grown with leaps and bounds in the past twelve years, and has now reached such proportions that the estimated value of ,000,000 for Maryland horses is insignificant if compared with the value of her farms. Most of these farms of today are located within thirty miles of Baltimore, but Maryland has been a favorite of nature from "end to end" and, as a result, breeding establishments are to be found in all counties. Following are the individual stories of the farms which today elevates the Old Line State to that trio of important production centers in America Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland. BELAIR. No account of Maryland breeding farms could start properly unless consideration was first given Belair Stud, the historic establishment of William Woodward, chairman of The Jockey Club. Marylanders are very proud of Belair, and rightly so, for besides I being the oldest stud farm in America, it played an important role in the production of horses which wrote the turf history of the Colonies. In 1746, while still in England, Samuel Ogle wrote his father-in-law, Benjamin Tasker, Sr., requesting him to have a two-story brick mansion built on his Ogles Maryland estate, "Belair," then comprised of some 1,400 acres. That original home is still in a state of perfect preservation, and in recent years, has been flanked with wings on either side. After Governor Ogle died in 1752, his uncle, Colonel Tasker, continued to use Belair, and it was not until 1770 that the formers son and heir, Benjamin Ogle, demanded an accounting and the restoration of his estate by legal process. Successful in court, he became "the Master of Belair" and later was governor of Maryland. Since those years, Belair has not always been an important producing unit and was bought by William Woodwards father when the latter was the first president of the Hanover National Bank, New York. In 1918, the present chairman of The Jockey Club restored the historic farm as a production center and since then its success embraces winners of practically every stake of importance in America and quite a few in England. At the Saratoga yearling sales, Belair has been represented by such later winners as Gaffsman, Petee-Wrack, Peanuts, Little Chief, Ned O., Quatrain, Wrackell, Sturdy Stella, Camp Boss, Miney Myerson and many others. Although Gaffsman topped them in earnings, Peanuts and Petee-Wrack have been colorful contributors to racing and breeding in the past decade. Peanuts, in the colors of Robert L. Gerry, was the ruling handicap star of eastern racing in his particular years and is now doubly famous as the daddy of Top Row, winner of the 1936 Santa Anita Handicap. Petee-Wrack won the only three-year-old race the Travers in which Reigh Count, 1928 champion, met defeat. Such horses as Gallant Fox, Omaha, Fair-eno, Aga Khan, Frisius, Happy Gal, Sir Andrew, Pardee, Fleam, The Scout, Sir Ashley and many others were bred by Belair Stud. During the Woodward regime, the Belair slogan has been "on the quality of its matrons depends the success of this stud," and in selecting his mares, The Jockey Club chieftain has always maintained an open mind and applied rare discretion when delving into bloodlines, domestic and foreign. One of Belairs finest mares and best producers was Filante, a daughter of Sardana-pale, from High Flier. Imported by Del Ruff, she was purchased by Woodward as a yearling and among her later foals were Gaffsman, Filemaker, Frisius and Flying Gal. Marguerite, the daughter of Celt and Fairy Ray, probably brought more fame to Belair than did Filante, bred to Wrack in 1924, the union resulted in Petee-Wrack. The latter was foaled at Ellerslie, the Virginia farm of A. B. Hancock, and later, when Marguerite was bred to Sir .Gallahad HI., at Claiborne Kentucky, Gallant Fox resulted. Both were sent to Belair when about six months old and were kept there as yearlings. The Fox 1930 campaign was one of the most ! brilliant in the annals of three-year-old competition. Closely affiliated with Arthur B. Hancock, - owner of the Claiborne and Ellerslie studs, j The Jockey Club chairman was one of the syndicate interested in the importation of Sir Gallahad III., now standing at the Hancock Claiborne farm in the Blue Grass sector. No stallions are standing at Belair, all being maintained at one of the two Hancock establishments. BOWLING BROOK. Besides Belair Stud, another Maryland farm that is famous wherever the thoroughbred is cherished, is Bowling Brook, founded by R. Wyndham Walden at Middleburg, Carroll County, in 1878. The stud is named after Bowling Brook, a son of Ayrshire and Vacation, a daughter of Tom Ochiltree. After the founders death his son, Robert J. Walden, became the owner and many improvements were introduced. Originally consisting of about 1,000 acres, the son reduced it to its present size of 300 acres before endeavoring to reshape it as a model American breeding establishment. About 300 yards from the main highway and in the center of a well-wooded tract is the beautiful Walden mansion of some eighteen rooms. The foaling boxes, farm buildings and dwellings on the property are in keeping with the mansion, and nothing has been omitted which would add to the comfort of the horse population. There are separate stables for the weanlings and brood mares and set apart there is one for the string of horses raced jointly by A. H. Morris, prominent New York sportsman, and Robert J. Walden. In 1932 there was a dispersal sale of the partnership interests of Messrs. Morris and Walden. Under the latters management, however, Bowling Brook was continued, and besides eight mares he has the stallion War Hero standing there. There is a six furlongs training track on the property, and. over which many famous horses have had their first trials, for the founder, Robert Wyndham Walden, trained the Lorillard and Morris racing strings. During the winter months the Walden horses are exercised on the quarter mile indoor track, which, bedded down with straw, is unusual in many of its features. Stalls completely surround the exercise ring, while the panelling which serves as the wall is detachable, thus can be converted into an open air track during the milder months. The racing stable is housed in this barn. j In rolling country, well watered and with j an abundance of limestone and blue grass, Bowling Brook is one of the best appointed breeding establishments in the Old Line State. The blue grass was originally taken from Kentucky and transplanted there. WORTHINGTON FARMS. Famous as the ground over which the Maryland Hunt Cup is contested annually, the Worthington Farm of the youthful J. W. Y. Martin is one of the most appealing breeding establishments in the state of I Maryland. Located at Glyndon, Baltimore County, it stretches over some 856 acres, but has recently been enlarged by 300 acres as a result of Martins acquisition of the adjoining Snow Hill Farm of C. L. A. Heiser. Snow Hill, located at an altitude far above j that of Worthington, is a vantage point for from 10,000 to 30,000 spectators during the running of the Maryland Hunt Cup. Under the management of the famous gentleman jockey, Frank A. Bonsai, Jr.. Worthington has accommodation for 100 head, and at present the horse population consists of fifteen mares, seven yearlings and the two stallions Macaw and Canter. The Martin stable of twelve horses, since shipped to Pimlico, were at the farm during the time of our visit. Among the marcs is i the sturdy Con Amore, which this year foaled a colt by Canter and was later bred to the Branncastle Farm stallion Challenger II. Another Worthington mare sent to Challenger II. is Unfurled, while Regency and Coral Rock were sent to the court of Canter. Canter 1923 is a son of Wildare Virginia ; L., by McGee, and is the sire of the stake winners Red Wagon, Cant Remember, Truly Yours and Bing Crosby. In 1933 he stood fourth on the list of leading sires, and since 1932 has sired 127 horses, which won 248 races and 01,671 through the close of the 1935 season. A handsome stallion, Canter is housed in a large barn, with Macaw the only other occupant. A stakes winner of over 50,000, Canter is now held at a service fee of 00 and return, although free seasons are available for owners of stake-winning mares or mares that are dams of good winners. Macaw 1923, the bay son of Peter Pan-Polly Flanders, by Burgomaster, is the second Worthington stallion, and though in the midst of a busy breeding season was in splendid shape when we visited him. A stakes winner of 6,650, Macaw defeated Chance Play and Pompey in the Presidents Plate, defeated Peanuts in the Brooklyn Handicap, and took a seven lengths victory from Crusader in the Highway Purse. His first crop of two-year-olds went to the races in 1931 and included Kakapo, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and 0,000. He is the sire of the stakes winners, Bright Plumage and Sabula, and of the winners, Bronx Park, Caw Caw, Joe Macaw, Jim Macaw, Lady Macaw, Yap and others. His service fee is 00. When at Worthington, Mr. Martin lives in a small two-story frame house on the property. Although the exterior is unpretentious, the interior is furnished in keeping with the ideas of a young millionaire sportsman. He. spends about two months of each year at the farm and then follows his racing string during the turf season. There is no training track at Worthington, but Martin has access to the track of his friend, A. G. Vanderbilt at Sagamore for the exercising of his horses. MANTUA FARM. Just a short distance from the Worthington Farms, which he manages, is the Mantua Farm of Frank A. Bonsai, Jr., one of Americas leading gentlemen steeplechase riders of the past twenty years. Although he does not ride as often as heretofore, Bonsai keeps in form by fulfilling his duties as Master of Foxhounds of the Green Spring Valley Hounds, one of the leading organizations of its kind in this country. , Comprising 350 acres, Mantua is the permanent home of Bonsai since his marriage, and at present the horse population is made up of four yearlings hunters, two brood mares, and the stallion, Sun Edwin. Sun Edwin, property of Messrs. Hancock, Stone and Harriman, is a bay 1925 son of Sun Briar Edwina, by Celt, and was a high class stake winner of 9,495. He was a siro of six two-year-old winners of twelve races in 1935.
